Port Moody will call on Metro Vancouver to work with residents of vintage summer cottages in Belcarra Regional Park to keep them as rental homes.
Representatives of the Belcarra South Preservation Society pleaded their case at a council meeting earlier this month after learning Metro planned to evict the residents and demolish the 1940s-era cabins because of potential liability issues.
Metro said the cabins' water, sewer and plumbing systems need upgrading and don't meet today's building code standards.
But as Andrea Ledingham told council on June 11, the longtime renters have already invested in an upgraded water system that is checked weekly, upgraded electrical systems and more. The residents would take on more improvements, she added, if there were assurances from Metro that they could stay on in the cottages.
At Tuesday's meeting, Coun. Diana Dilworth said she was moved by the presentation and suggested the city urge Metro Vancouver to work with the residents in finding solutions that would allow them to stay.
In other PoMo news:
ADOPT A TRAIL
A plan to implement a volunteer-based "adopt a trail" program was put on hold until the city's union could be consulted.
Staff recommended council implement an Adopt a Trail/Street/Park program after investigating a request from the Barnet Lions Club in February for such a program.
"An Adopt a Trail/Street/Park program would meet the requirements of the city's Volunteers in Parks Policy by providing a higher level of service than the city currently provides without loss of staff jobs," the staff report notes.
The report also noted the program would cost about $500 in staff time to set up; interested volunteer groups would then be asked to pay $600 for initial start-up costs (for vests, litter pickers and bags) and $150 in annual operating costs.
Council opted to defer the discussion until members of CUPE Local 825 - covering about 275 inside and outside workers in PoMo - could be consulted on whether it would infringe on any union jobs.
